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Aston Villa returned to winning ways on the weekend, securing a 5-0 victory over Sheffield United which maintains their hopes of a top four finish in the Premier League.

Unai Emery brought in a few players during the transfer window, yet he failed to sign a centre-back and with injuries to Pau Torres and Tyrone Mings, he may be stretched in this area if any more of his players suffer setbacks.

Mings is currently ruled out of the whole campaign following a serious knee injury suffered in the opening game of the season and with the player turning 31 next month, Emery may have to think about the future without him.

Tyrone Mings’ injury news

The Englishman has already missed 103 games during the early part of his career at Bournemouth due to a back injury and a cruciate ligament tear, and his current injury will be tough to come back from.

It could take him a while to get back up to speed and by that time, he may be slightly lower in the pecking order under Emery.

The Englishman has just two years remaining on his current contract, and it is time the former Arsenal boss started looking for potential heirs to take over from Mings.

Instead of diving into the transfer market, however, Emery could take a look closer to home as young defender Kerr Smith is thriving and could be an ideal long-term replacement for the 30-year-old.

Kerr Smith could be a future Aston Villa centre-back

Prior to making the move to England in 2022, Smith was a teenage prodigy at Dundee United, making 12 appearances for the first team before Steven Gerrard poached him.

Academy manager Mark Harrison lavished praise on the then 17-year-old, saying: “He has lots of potential but has already gained some fantastic experience at first-team level with Dundee United, which is rare for a 17-year-old.”

His spell at United also saw him being spoken highly about by his teammate Marc Connolly, who lauded the teen as “incredible” and it is clear he is destined to play at the very top before long.

Over the last two years, Smith has played 51 games combined for the U18 and U23 sides, and he only recently signed a new professional contract at the club before being sent on loan to Scottish outfit St Johnstone, where he will gain more senior experience.

The 19-year-old played in all three of Villa’s EFL Trophy matches this season and acquitted himself well against senior professionals as he won 67% of his aerial duels per game along with averaging an 87% pass success rate and it surely won't be long before Emery hands him a debut in the senior Villa side.

He is still raw and developing, but this spell in the academy has clearly worked wonders for Smith and with Mings’ long-term future unclear, especially following a lengthy recovery from his knee injury, the young Scot could emerge as a perfect heir in the next year or so.

He could save Emery plenty of money in the transfer window by doing so.

The USMNT are ready to battle Copa America rivals that “don’t like you very much”, with Matt Turner taking positives from a 1-1 draw with Brazil.

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Suffered humbling defeat to ColombiaBounced back to hold Selecao in OrlandoCountdown on to Copa opener vs BoliviaWHAT HAPPENED?

The United States are preparing to fill the role of hosts at a major international tournament this summer. Their preparations for that event got off to a shaky start when suffering a 5-1 friendly defeat to Colombia. They followed that up by holding their own against a star-studded Brazil side in Orlando, meaning that confidence has been restored heading into clashes with more South American foes.

AdvertisementWHAT TURNER SAID

First-choice goalkeeper Turner, who made 11 saves against Brazil, has told reporters of the USMNT readying themselves for bigger challenges to come: “I think at the end of the day, tactics don't matter, whoever’s out there shouldn't ever matter. It's about representing something bigger than yourself. When you put on this crest, there's a certain level of expectation and we need to know that friendly or not, it doesn't matter, you're the USA, and you're going to play in Copa America and you're going to play against South American teams that don't like you very much and want to prove a point. So we have to have a certain level of intensity every single time we step out onto the pitch that we lacked in the Colombia game, but we had tonight.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Head coach Gregg Berhalter is another that sees his squad heading in the right direction, saying of the response offered to a humbling setback against Colombia: “We feel like we made a little step. It's not a huge step, but it's a little step, to be able to play against amazingly talented Brazil team and bend but not break, and I think give them problems as well, push them as well. We think it's a good end to our preparation camp and we're ready for Copa America.”

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WHAT NEXT?

The United States will open their quest for Copa America glory against Bolivia at AT&T stadium in Texas on June 23, before going on to face Panama in Atlanta and Uruguay at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas across their other Group C fixtures.

All the latest news from the Bangladesh Premier League

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jul-2019Shakib Al Hasan has signed a one-year contract with the Rangpur Riders and will play for them in new BPL season, which begins on December 6. The allrounder leaves Dhaka Dynamites having led them to the final thrice in three seasons, lifting the title in 2016. Given the rivalry between the two sides, Shakib’s move is a bit of a coup by the Riders.The franchise owners Basundhara Group presented Shakib, who is currently on leave from Bangladesh duty, in their headquarters on Tuesday.This is Shakib’s second stint with the Riders although he played under different owners during the 2015 season, in which he took 18 wickets but scored only 136 runs in 11 matches. Shakib has also played for Khulna Royal Bengals (2012) and Dhaka Gladiators (2013).Shakib’s acquisition by the Rangpur franchise, as their icon player, also means that Mashrafe Mortaza has to look for a new franchise for the upcoming season, having led them to their maiden BPL title in 2017, and the knockout stage in the previous season.July 21Eoin Morgan to make BPL debut with Dhaka DynamitesEoin Morgan, who led England to their first World Cup title last week, is set for his maiden Bangladesh Premier League stint, after signing up with Dhaka Dynamites for the upcoming season.In 2016, Morgan had expressed his concerns about going to Bangladesh following a terrorist attack in Dhaka in July. He and Alex Hales eventually withdrew from England’s squad due to security reasons.Morgan has played 268 T20s, scoring 5652 runs at a strike-rate of 128.25. Morgan’s next assignment after the World Cup is the Euro T20 Slam, where he will represent the Dublin franchise. Morgan will then join another World Cup star Shakib Al Hasan at Dhaka later this year.Duminy to join Rajshahi KingsRajshahi Kings have signed up JP Duminy, the South Africa batsman who recently retired from international cricket, as one of their two out-of-draft signings. They haven’t announced their other signing yet.Duminy has been a regular in other top T20 leagues like the IPL, but hasn’t featured in the BPL until now. He didn’t play in the 2019 season of the IPL, having endured an ordinary 2018 season with Mumbai Indians, scoring just 36 runs in six matches at the strike rate of 90.00. He had a better time at the PSL last year, scoring 251 runs at an average of 35.85, with two fifties.

Rajshahi Kings are proud to announce that South African allrounder @jpduminy21 is a King now.

Duminy; an elegant left handed batsman, a useful spinner and a sharp fielder, has served South Africa for more than 14 years.#OwnTheCrown pic.twitter.com/guBdyRJkIe

— Rajshahi Kings (@RKingsOfficial) July 20, 2019

July 18Shane Watson crunches one through extra cover•Getty ImagesKhulna Titans rope in Shane WatsonKhulna Titans have roped in Australian allrounder Shane Watson for the 2019-20 Bangladesh Premier League. Watson was the first of the two direct signings for Khulna, who finished at the bottom of the points table last season.Watson, who had missed the 2017 BPL due to injury, after signing up with Dhaka Dynamites that year, said that his primary goal would be to win a maiden title for Khulna.”I am super excited to join the Khulna Titans for the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League season,” Watson said. “The coaching and management team at the Khulna Titans are putting together an amazing squad, so hopefully we can bring home that title that we have always been looking for.”Watson announced his BBL retirement in April, but he continues to be an active player in other T20 leagues. In May, he nearly took Chennai Super Kings to the IPL title and he is now set to turn out in the inaugural Euro T20 Slam.The seventh edition of BPL is scheduled to start in first week of December later this year.

Leeds United survived a scare in Devon to eventually overcome Plymouth Argyle 4-1 in the FA Cup on Wednesday night, needing extra time in the replay at Home Park to score three goals to return back to West Yorkshire victorious.

The win was managed even with Ethan Ampadu sitting out, the rock-solid Whites first-team figure given a well-deserved rest after a stellar season to date in the Championship.

Integral to the Leeds cause both as a centre-back and as a defensive midfielder wherever necessary, it's a signing that has really paid off for both the second-tier side and Ampadu who will now feel he's finally found a footballing home at Elland Road.

The signing of Ethan Ampadu

Landing Ampadu last summer for £7m might well have raised some eyebrows in Leeds quarters, the 23-year-old finally leaving Chelsea behind after an up-and-down time at Stamford Bridge often involved the 6-foot star being stuck in a constant loop of loans.

Featuring for the likes of Sheffield United on loan, alongside more left-field switches to Italy with Venezia and Spezia, Leeds hoped they had struck gold by being able to tie Ampadu down to a permanent deal.

The transfer now does look like an absolute masterstroke from Farke and Co, with Ampadu arguably one of the first names on the German manager's teamsheet whenever he's deliberating on his next chosen XI.

Playing every single minute this season in the Championship for Leeds, Ampadu's passing ability playing out from deep alongside his knack for successfully launching into tackles and duels unphased is a terrifying combo for opponents to manage.

Creating four big chances this season too, when helping out in attacks, it's no surprise to see that Ampadu's market value has skyrocketed since leaving Chelsea behind for Elland Road.

Joining the club for £7m only a matter of months ago, Ampadu is now worth more than double that with Leeds overjoyed as to how well their Welshman has done since moving to West Yorkshire.

Ethan Ampadu's increased value at Leeds

According to Football Transfers, the imperious figure of Ampadu now has a transfer value worth €18.5m (£15.7m) which will make Leeds very smug about their initial investment. That actually happens to be more than the silky Crysencio Summerville, according to the website's expected transfer value model, with the Dutchman sitting at £8.4m.

You can bet any side would have to pay a great deal more than that if they wanted to prise the youngster away from Elland Road. Either way, there's no chance that the Whites would aim to make a profit on their £40k per week man and offload him again anytime soon, realising how crucial Ampadu's presence around the dressing room will be to pulling off potential automatic promotion glory.

In Leeds' last Championship encounter, Ampadu was a brick wall against Bristol City partnered with an equally strong Joe Rodon at the heart of defence.

Blocking two shots in the contest to enable the Whites to pick up a clean sheet – their 12th already of the Championship season – the Welshman was also equally composed with the ball at his feet when the pressure was ramped up with 93 touches in total at Ashton Gate.

Leeds will have their fingers crossed that Ampadu – who was once described as a "destroyer" by football journalist Graham Smyth this campaign – continues to put in standout displays on the way to Whites rocking up more and more victories.

Next season, Ampadu could well be a Premier League defender even after his frustrating time at Chelsea had left him bereft of confidence and feeling unwanted. Now, he's a crucial cog in Farke's Leeds machine.

Jofra Archer and Jack Leach’s selections rely on the hope, rather than conviction, that England can turn this Ashes series around

Andrew Miller13-Aug-2019It’s a been a fair few years now since Australia’s formidable Test record at Lord’s has been factored into the Ashes build-up – consecutive thumpings in 2009 and 2013 rather punctured their proud boast of not having lost at the ground since 1934. But on their last visit here in 2015, they atoned for those setbacks with a brutal 405-run victory – with a certain Steven Smith leading the line with 215 from 346 balls.And now they are back at their favourite home from home, with Smith exuding an invincibility on English soil not seen since Graeme Smith’s extraordinary awakening in the summer of 2003, and England – for all the hype and expectation surrounding Jofra Archer – looking as vulnerable in a home Ashes campaign as they have been in a generation.It’s not simply that England are 1-0 down in the series – that’s nothing new for this set of players, as Root was happy to point out on the eve of the contest. They’ve been behind on home soil three times in the last six years, and recovered on each occasion, to beat India in 2014, and draw with Pakistan twice in 2016 and 2018.But this time, the concern is the gulf between hope and expectation that appears to be opening up between the two teams, for all that Root was setting out to be bullish on the eve of the contest.”We’re in English conditions, we really back ourselves to come back strong after last week,” Root said, after it had been pointed out that England have now lost six of their last seven Tests against Australia dating back to 2015, with only a bore-draw in Melbourne for respite. “I’m expecting a big response from the boys. We’ve proven that we do that, time and time again, when we’ve been defeated, especially at home. Last week will have hurt everyone and everyone will be absolutely desperate to go and win this week. And I expect nothing less.”That’s a lot of expectation to shoehorn into one answer. But does Root really expect England to perform better than they did in the crunch moments at Edgbaston, or he is merely hoping that they will? Does he expect their misfiring middle-order to find renewed resolve with the series in the balance, or is he simply hoping that that is the case?Or, to flip the sentiment on its head: Do England really expect Archer – and to a lesser extent, Jack Leach – to add a sting to their attack that Smith in particular so expertly drew in the first Test? Of course they don’t … though they fervently hope that they might. “He’s got a good bouncer and bowls at a good pace consistently, so I’m sure he’ll cause problems on most surfaces,” said Root of Archer. “Hopefully, he can exploit this one.”ALSO READ: ‘More ready than I’ve ever been’ – Archer primed for Test debutInstead, it is Australia who really expects … and that has tended to be a deadly mindset when these two sides have clashed in the past. Whereas England tend to be a danger to themselves whenever they try to be frontrunners in a series, getting on top and staying on top is far more in tune with the Australian psyche, especially one that has been rebooted by a brains trust including both Justin Langer and Steve Waugh.In fact, Australia’s plans are falling so serenely into place that, in resting James Pattinson while tantalising both Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood with the carrot of a Lord’s comeback, the management have been able to cast one eye towards next week’s third Test at Headingley, even while ensuring their chosen 12 keep their thoughts firmly fixed in the present.”It’s always nice from a captaincy and a leadership point of view when you’ve got two senior players who are world-class left out and they cop it on the chin, run drinks, and train their backsides off in the lunch hours and tea breaks,” said Australia’s captain, Tim Paine. “It sets a really good example for the rest of our team.”ALSO READ: Pattinson rested, Hazlewood likely to play Lord’s TestIt’s certainly not a policy that guarantees success, but as a mitigation against failure, it seems light-years removed from England’s current suck-it-and-see approach – one which, in the penultimate month of this most exhausting of summers, seems now to be relying more on a Pakistani-style quest for Haal than any actual long-term planning.Jofra Archer is expected to play an impact role based on short spells•Getty ImagesAnd who’s to say, just like Pakistan on any given day – or like Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad on the final day of the Ireland Test last month – a combination of rich talent and faint desperation won’t propel this set of players to extraordinary and series-turning heights. There’s certainly little doubt that, pound for pound and irrespective of fatigue and motivation, a team containing world-class individuals such as Root, Archer, Ben Stokes and Jason Roy ought to be a match for any opponent.But, just as Australia couldn’t be any more at home at Lord’s – moseying around the pavilion as if to the manor born, and with their kids performing cartwheels on the square as they saunter back from the nets – so it is England who most resemble a put-upon touring team.One Test down out of five, and among their fast-bowling stocks, already Mark Wood, Olly Stone and James Anderson are sidelined, with only the latter a realistic chance of being fit before the end of the series. And while Joe Root’s promotion to No. 3 has applied a band-aid to their longstanding top-order flimsiness, the recent absence of Championship cricket makes the sourcing of battle-ready replacements as problematic as it would have been had the series been taking place Down Under.”A big responsibility comes on the players, making sure that they look after themselves and keep themselves as fit as possible,” said Root. “Throughout the rest of this campaign, there are certain things which you can’t control and sometimes you get thrown a bad hand and you have to deal with it. And we’ve certainly responded well to that in the past when that’s happened. And we’ve got to make sure that we do exactly the same this time. We’ve got some very talented players and bowlers that are fully capable of taking 20 wickets this week.”And yet, to riff on a recurring theme of the past month, England have already scaled their Everest for this summer, and in such glorious fashion too, on this very ground. Australia, by contrast, over-achieved in reaching the World Cup semi-finals, but only now are they really beginning to hit their stride. They’ve not won the Ashes in England for 18 years and counting, but much like England in the white-ball campaign just gone, they know they’ll rarely get a better chance to drive home their advantage.

Trent Alexander-Arnold started in midfield for Gareth Southgate for England against Serbia b not everyone was impressed by the Liverpool star.

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Alexander-Arnold plays in England midfieldGary Neville criticizes Liverpool man's abilitiesFans take shots at Man Utd legend's opinionsWHAT HAPPENED?

Former Manchester United legend and ITV pundit Gary Neville was one of the critics of Alexander-Arnold over his performances as the Three Lions scraped past Serbia with a 1-0 win on the night thanks to Jude Bellingham. The former full-back tore into the Liverpool star's skill set as he went on to insinuate that a full-back is a full-back because they've previously not been good enough to play further forward. However, Neville has also received a lot of criticism for his opinions about the 25-year-old.

AdvertisementWHAT NEVILLE SAID

Speaking on ITV, the former right-back said: "There's something for me, just thinking that Gareth wants to get Gallagher into the team. He's obviously going to make unpopular decisions, Gareth, and he's not scared of it. But I think there's an element of wanting to get Gallagher into the team but he knows that would be deemed as being quite negative. I think he's gone half in, he's not gone Gallagher, he's not gone Mainoo."

Fellow pundit and Manchester United legend Roy Keane agreed with Neville and said: "If you're a midfielder and see a right-back getting in ahead of you… you're not going to be happy."

WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

X user @StePlunk took on the ITV broadcast, saying: "ITV Sports. Welcome to France Vs Austria. Let's just talk about Trent lol… Neville chatting absolute garbage suggesting Klopp moved him to RB because he didn't fancy him in midfield. This is also not the next level for a footballer. Ffs have a day off."

Another user @GrantEEMitchell said: "Gary Neville’s slander of Trent is UTTER bull*hit. Hating on a different level."

Liverpool fan @Henry_Taylor04 said: "Gary Neville projecting his own insecurities about not being able to be a midfielder onto Trent is disgusting. Trent became Liverpool’s right back because Clyne wasn’t fit and Gomez wasn’t fit."

@DanReilly92 said: "Gary Neville’s obsession with being negative about Trent is getting a bit weird now."

@adammsmith00 said on X: "The switch from Keane & Neville from Trent to Foden is outrageous. Agenda is silly"

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Alexander-Arnold has possibly been one of the best full-backs in the world but has often been targeted for his defensive frailties. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen if Southgate will cave to the pundits' pressure and start a more natural midfielder next time out.

Tottenham could make a summer window signing in a "similar manner" to James Maddison, with a transfer discount for the player also possible.

Spurs identifying future transfer targets after January

The north Londoners, amid their chase for a top-four finish and Champions League qualification, have wasted no time at all in identifying summer targets after a successful January window.

Spurs make contract offer to sign star who nearly joined Pochettino in 2018

He publicly admitted to considering a Tottenham move.

ByEmilio Galantini Feb 15, 2024

Last month saw manager Ange Postecoglou backed with the arrivals of defender Radu Dragusin, who joined in a £25 million deal from Genoa, and forward Timo Werner on loan from RB Leipzig. Spurs also beat Barcelona in the race to sign teenage Swede sensation Lucas Bergvall, with the north Londoners sealing a buy-to-loan back deal for the Djurgardens IF starlet who's set to link up with Postecoglou later this year.

Having shifted plenty of Tottenham deadwood as well, it was quite the debut window for technical director Johan Lange, but it is believed the Dane and Spurs' wider recruitment team have wasted little time in preparing for the summer.

Barcelona star Raphinha features on a list of targets for Postecoglou's side, according to reliable club insider Paul O'Keefe, while rumours continue to surround Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher.

The 23-year-old is now a star player under Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge, but with his contract expiring in 2025 as things stand, the west Londoners are faced with a tricky business decision as Spurs lurk in the background.

Postecoglou is a widely reported admirer of Gallagher, and as Chelsea fail to move forward in negotiations over a fresh deal, the prospect of him making a move across London becomes more concrete.

"I’m not sold on the idea that it would be impossible for him to come to Spurs and here’s why," said journalist Darren Lewis last month.

"I didn’t think Chelsea would sell Mason Mount to a rival, and they sold him to Man Utd for £60m. He was a poster boy for the academy, I just think as far as Gallagher is concerned there is that problem with PSR with Chelsea. I think he would be an excellent fit for Spurs, and working for a manager like Postecoglou who puts his arm around a player, I think Gallagher could really settle down.

“This is a Spurs podcast so we won’t dwell too much on Chelsea, but I think there is a possibility that Gallagher could come, yes.”

Now, sharing an update on their interest in Gallagher, 90min have made an interesting claim.

Tottenham could strike Gallagher deal in "similar manner" to Maddison

Indeed, it is believed Spurs are expected to make a fresh move for the Englishman, and it could be done in a "similar manner" to that of star playmaker James Maddison.

Crystal Palace 1-3 Chelsea

8.78

Tottenham 1-4 Chelsea

8.22

Chelsea 3-0 Luton

7.90

Chelsea 2-0 Sheffield United

7.80

Burnley 1-4 Chelsea

7.72

The latter was signed early in the window last year with a swoop for Gallagher in that fashion possible. As his contract winds down, 90min claim Chelsea could also drop Gallagher's asking price from £60 million to £50 million.

They back that Postecoglou is a big fan of the former Crystal Palace star, so it will be interesting to see if they test the waters with an early summer bid.

Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas believes Jude Bellingham can captain the Spanish giants one day.

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Bellingham won UCL in first seasonPlaying starring role for England at Euro 2024Expected to lead club and country in futureWHAT HAPPENED?

The 20-year-old has earned plenty of plaudits this season after starring for Real Madrid in La Liga and Champions League triumphs. Ex-Madrid captain and goalkeeper Casillas has jumped on the hype train and revealed that Bellingham needs to continue learning the history of the club while performing in the biggest matches if he is to one day be handed the armband.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT CASILLAS SAID

Casillas, who is brand ambassador for Hisense's UEFA Euro 2024 campaign BEYOND GLORY, told the : "He's made it at the most important club in the world and has shown that he's a great player and that he can be there. Now, and next year, more may be asked of him, but that's what will make him a star. He could surely be the captain of Real Madrid, of course. He has everything to form the part.

"There are more experienced people at the top, but I would advise him to continue learning from the other veterans there, to continue soaking up the history of the club, and to do everything to be a great player and captain."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Bellingham has shown maturity beyond his age since moving to the Spanish capital and if he is able to maintain his levels, he will be present at the top of the game for at least another decade. There is no rush for him to take on the responsibility of captain but he has proven already that he has the qualities needed to thrive in a leadership role.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR BELLINGHAM?

Before Bellingham embarks on a double title defence with Real Madrid, he has work to do with his country. England enjoyed a winning start to Euro 2024 but there is still a lot on the line for one of the tournament favourites and the ex-Borussia Dortmund man will have a huge influence on the outcome for the Three Lions.

Head coach, as well as other support staffers Grant Flower, Azhar Mahmood and Grant Luden, to be discarded next week

Umar Farooq and Danyal Rasool07-Aug-2019Mickey Arthur’s time as Pakistan’s head coach will end next week with the PCB deciding against renewing his contract. The board’s decision means that nearly the entire coaching staff – batting coach Grant Flower, bowling coach Azhar Mahmood, and fitness trainer Grant Luden – will not have their contracts extended.According to a statement released by the PCB on Wednesday, the board will be “immediately undertaking a robust recruitment process” to fill these roles ahead of Pakistan’s next international commitment, a Test series against Sri Lanka in October.With the contracts of Arthur, Flower, Azhar and Luden all scheduled to end on August 15 anyway, none of the coaches has been sacked per se. But Arthur, certainly, had expressed an eagerness to continue: in an exhaustive review conducted by the PCB after the World Cup, Arthur asked for a chance to present his report, which was widely seen as a chance for him to defend his record and make a case for an extension.

The unanimous recommendation of the Committee was that it was time for new leadership and a fresh approach. I am happy to accept their strong recommendationsEhsan Mani

The decisions were arrived at following a five-hour PCB cricket committee meeting on Monday, in which Arthur was grilled about his performance with the team over the last three years. He was keen to continue, and ESPNcricinfo understands that he asked for two more years at the job.Ehsan Mani, the PCB chairman, said in a statement: “I am thankful to the PCB Cricket Committee for submitting their recommendations following an exhaustive and detailed review process. The committee comprised of individuals who possess tremendous acumen, experience and knowledge. The unanimous recommendation of the Committee was that it was time for new leadership and a fresh approach. I am happy to accept their strong recommendations.ESPNcricinfo Ltd”On behalf of the PCB, I want to sincerely thank Mickey Arthur, Grant Flower, Grant Luden and Azhar Mahmood for their hard work and unwavering commitment during their tenures with the national men’s team. We wish them every success in their future endeavors.”This means five key people will be out of the set-up following Pakistan’s fifth-place finish at the World Cup, with chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq having earlier decided against contract renewal once his stint ended in July. The only survivor from the coaching staff is fielding coach Grant Bradburn, whose contract runs until September 2021.Bradburn’s continuation underscores the PCB’s stated position that no one has been removed, their contracts just haven’t been renewed. However, with the men leaving interested in staying on, it’s really a distinction without a difference.Arthur was appointed as head coach in May 2016 after Pakistan’s disappointing performance at the World T20 in 2016 ended with Waqar Younis’ stint coming to a close. Arthur immediately adopted a tough stance on the fitness and fielding standards of the players and brought in Steve Rixon as fielding coach. Several players were cast aside – Umar Akmal, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz and Sohail Khan for example – for not being at the levels Arthur wanted, while Pakistan’s fielding numbers soared under Rixon’s watch; in the 12 months before he left in June 2018, Pakistan were a better fielding side than South Africa and Australia.Will there be changes among the players too?•Getty ImagesUnder Arthur, Pakistan reached the top spot in the T20I rankings and, following a 2-2 series draw in England in 2016 – his first assignment as head coach – they rose to the top of the Test rankings. That didn’t last long, though, as Pakistan endured a disappointing run in the format after that, losing nine of the following 11 matches they played, including a 2-0 loss at home to Sri Lanka. It was Pakistan’s first Test series loss in the UAE since it became their home away from home. Overall, Pakistan won 10 and lost 17 of the Test matches played under Arthur, by far the most disappointing aspect of his coaching record with the side.But there were also concerns that his robust, high-intensity methods, and no-nonsense headmasterly style of coaching was beginning to wear out his players. There was a high-profile falling out with Umar Akmal in 2017, following which the player was sidelined for over a year, only to play in a five-match ODI series where Pakistan rested half-a-dozen frontline players. Then, in South Africa last year, Arthur had a go at several players following a second-innings collapse in Centurion, and also had tough words for Babar Azam following a loss against England in a five-match ODI series in May this year. Babar had scored a hundred in the game, but Arthur felt his strike rate was a contributing factor to the defeat.Flower’s departure, meanwhile, means Pakistan have let go of the longest-serving member of the coaching staff. Flower, who ESPNcricinfo understands was also willing to continue, was appointed in May 2014, and it was during this time that Sarfaraz Ahmed emerged as Pakistan’s No. 1 wicketkeeper-batsman in Test cricket, and players like Babar, Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman all broke through.The highest point for the team, of course, was winning the Champions Trophy in 2017, when everything came together brilliantly. Arthur was the motivator as Pakistan turned a thumping early loss to India around with four wins on the trot. The top-order batting clicked in semi-final and final thrashings of England and India, while the pace bowling in those two games was exquisite. The fielding still hadn’t touched the heights it would in the 12 months to follow, but there were signs that a corner was being turned.Now, they have chosen to try and turn another corner and they will have to do it with a whole new group of people for company and guidance.

Essex and Hampshire share the points for the second time in two years, as they maintain their slim quarter-final hopes

ECB Reporters Network25-Aug-2019Hampshire and Essex Eagles tied for a second year in a row as Adam Zampa ran half-century maker Sam Northeast out off the last ball of a thrilling match.Hampshire, chasing 140 to win, needed 11 off the final over, having previously required 42 from three overs, before pulling it down to two runs from the last ball.With Northeast, who was on 72, on strike the batsman struck down the ground but could only find Zampa – who easily had Northeast out his ground attempting a second.Northeast had turned the match around with 73 from 56 balls, with the match seemingly Essex’s to win before the nervy finale.The shared points helps neither side in their hopes of progressing to the quarter-finals – they both sit on 11 points, two points adrift of Somerset and Middlesex.Having won the toss and chosen the bowl Hampshire struck early. Chris Wood continued his incredible first-over wicket-taking record when he had Tom Westley lbw to the first delivery of the match – it was the fifth time in this season’s Blast the left-armer had stuck in his first over.Kyle Abbott copied Wood in the next over as Essex were left 3 for 2 when Cameron Delport was brilliantly caught behind by Lewis McManus.Dan Lawrence and Adam Wheater then ambled along at around six an over in an 83-run stand for the third wicket to revive the innings – before Wheater was caught on the square boundary.Lawrence continued, though, with a series of delightful shots through and over the covers, to go with a towering six over midwicket. He passed 1,000 T20 runs and a 13th fifty of the season across all formats, off 37 balls.But as with his first 12 half-centuries, Lawrence couldn’t convert to three figures as he picked out Ian Holland at backward point while attempting a reverse scoop.Ryan ten Doeschate plumb lbw to Chris Morris and Abbott yorking Ravi Bopara and Simon Harmer in the same over to take figures of three for 15, also departed – leaving the Eagles on 139 for 7.Like Essex earlier, Hampshire lost both openers early on as James Vince and Rilee Rossouw both picked out Ravi Bopara on the point rope.Northeast and Liam Dawson attempted to rebuild for the hosts but despite running hard between the wickets they struggled to hit boundaries in their 68-run alliance.With seven overs to go, and only four fours between them, the required rate was up and 10 an over – with Dawson departing for 31 off 34 balls during that 14th over after slogging a sweep straight to cow corner.But thanks to some clever striking from Northeast, whose half century came in 46 balls with five fours, Hampshire ground themselves back into contention.Chris Morris and James Fuller, 17 off 12, both departed but Northeast and Lewis McManus collected 11 off the 18th over, 19 from the 19th over and managed to slice past the 11 needed off the final Mohammad Amir over before the last ball hijinx.